act two: little dark age
chapter thirty-five

Atticus Black, Daphne's brother, her ride or die for her entire childhood... a death eater. This biggest stab in the back that the girl had ever received. The last thing she had ever expected from him and the last thing she ever wanted. Her brother was with the people who agreed with Lord Voldemort. The people who wanted her. The people who wanted Harry dead.

The entire time... the year before, the sudden change in his act was because he had joined them. He had changed alliances. Siding against Daphne in the war that brewed ahead. Siding against the girl to ensure her safety, a safety that was forever in despair. She wanted to hate her brother after everything, but she never could. He did it thinking that he was keeping her safe.

Daphne was lost in her mind when it came to processing about her brother. About what he was and what they do. She hated to admit that she wondered if he had been there over the summer at the Cup, if he had witnessed what had happened to her as she was tortured on the ground while everything around her burned.

She'd like to think that if he had been there, that maybe he would've stopped it. That maybe he would've told someone off as he threw them away from her. Disarming them in the process and protecting the girl he loved as a baby sister. But as far as she knew, that night, no one had saved her. She remembered hearing the call of her name but that could've been anyone. She had been left unconscious in the dirt. Scared.

She wondered what she should do with this information. She wondered if she should run away and find someone. If she should tell her father, if she should tell her friends, or if she should tell her Uncle's. But to her, something in doing one of those actions felt like a betrayal. Atticus seemed genuinely scared and worried.

She didn't want to believe that he was truly a bad guy. Yes, she knew what he had said to her was wrong. But he needed her. Or he appeared too. Atticus had always been Daphne's biggest protector for years. Every time anything happened, he got her out of danger. Despite how she hated Rosalie and he still loved her, he understood that she caused his sister pain.

She felt no sense of danger as she stood with her brother in the corridor and there were no signs that were trying to warn her. She just stood there with her brother who looked more and more broken by the minute causing her to pull him into her arms, ignoring how she felt about the entire situation because he needed her.

She felt as he shook lightly as he cried in her arms. Daphne closed her eyes as she held onto him tighter, having missed him. She hated how things had been between the two recently and she felt stupid for not realizing that anything had been up sooner. She knew Atticus better than anyone, she had grown up alongside him. She hated herself for turning on him so quickly.

"I believe you," Daphne whispered as she held onto him tighter, "And I am so sorry for turning on you so quickly. We both were in the wrong with everything that had happened but I should've noticed something was up. I should've known."

Atticus stayed quiet for a moment, only moving when he heard footsteps, "You couldn't have known - no one can know, Daphne."

Daphne swallowed thickly as she nodded, "I swear, I won't tell a soul."

"Miss Black, Mr. Black," Daphne noticed how her brother's body language changed in an instant, looking cold, distant, and angry, "Miss Black, shouldn't you be with Mr. Potter celebrating his victory?"

"I did, but I had some business with my brother to take care of," The girl acted as if she was beyond angry as she stared at Professor Moody, "I don't see why what I do is any of your business, Professor."

There was tension thick in the air. So thick that it could be cut with a sharp knife. Daphne and Moody seemed to be having a glare off as the elders' eyes dug into the young girl, but she wouldn't be deterred. This only confirmed her suspicions, Mad Eye Moody was the beast within the walls.

"I just find it suspicious that you and your brother are away from the celebrations to have a discussion in a rather... distant part of the castle," Moody's fake eye was stuck on Atticus who had his jaw clenched tightly, "Come with me, Mr. Black."

"Yes, Professor," Atticus bumped roughly into his sister as he walked over to the man.

"Have a good day, Miss Black," Daphne resisted the urge to raise her middle finger as she watched the boy and the man walk away.

She stood with her back straight and her eyes trained forward, well aware that the man was still watching her even as he had walked away. There was not a time in the day where he wasn't watching her, and slowly, everything fell together in her mind.

Shit, she couldn't help but think before looking around, making sure that Moody and her brother were long gone before she quickly began to leave to find the Common Room once again. Maybe there she could find some peace or some sort of reason.

As she was walking through the corridors and winding passage ways, she took notice of how the world around her felt different. An odd sense of different. She wondered if Moody had noticed that she could sense something was off and she wondered if he knew that Atticus had told her about things he wasn't supposed to tell her. Moody and Caius were trying to keep her in the dark.

It was an unusual feeling, to not truly be betrayed after all. To merely have been lied to so that you could be kept safe. Daphne wanted to feel angry, she wanted to feel sad, but she felt as if it wasn't right for her to feel those things. After all, her brother was still being her older brother. Atticus' words in third year had merely been an act, an act he had to put on to protect his family.

The girl continued on as she came to a halt, running her hands through her hair as she sighed to herself while trying to come to some sort of conclusion with her feelings. A conclusion that wasn't just, empty.

"Wandering the castle, late, are we?" Lucerys' voice pricked Daphne's ears as she turned around, ripping her gaze from the courtyard that she hadn't even realized she was staring at, "What are you doing out here alone?"

Daphne pursed her lips together before shrugging her shoulders as she crossed her arms across her chest, "I just needed to clear my head, Dad," She gave him a small smile causing him to return the favor, "Are you monitoring? Or reliving the old days when you were in my place."

Lucerys let out a small laugh as he shook his head, "It truly wasn't that long ago, if you must know, Daphne. I'm only thirty-three."

"Thirty-four in May," Daphne reminded her father with a cheeky smirk, "Don't try to flatter yourself to be younger, Dad."

Lucerys scoffed as he acted hurt by his daughter's words as he placed his hands on his hips, "Don't flatter yourself either, Daph. You're getting old as well, you're fourteen now and soon fifteen and gosh, before you know it you'll be in my position," He ruffled her hair causing her to scrunch up her face, "And you'll remember this conversation."

"And all of our other ones," Daphne smirked lightly as she looked up at her father, "I'm going to look ancient by the time I'm your age, with all of the stress I'm under."

"Won't we all," Lucerys teased as he looked down at his daughter, "You have so many friends that would do anything to protect you. So many people to love you, for you being you and not your ability that they know not of. I couldn't be prouder of you," Lucerys smiled down at his daughter as his eyes looked soft, "Let me walk you back to the Common Room, I don't like seeing you alone."

"I love my friends but being alone is quite refreshing sometimes," Daphne let out a small laugh before taking her father's arm as she faked a curtsy, "Thank you, m'lord Black," She joked.

Lucerys scrunched up his face which mirrored his daughter's as he rolled his eyes in disgust, "Please, never say that again, sweet girl."

"I thought it was rather funny," Daphne laughed as she shimmied her shoulders before laughing.

"So much like your Uncle Sirius, I can practically smell the Firewhiskey," Lucerys gave her a pointed look as he shook his head, "Then again, your Uncle Remus is quite similar to you as well. You truly are a perfect mix of both families, your mother subtracted of course."

Daphne let out a small snort upon hearing her father's words as she grinned, "That's a real lasting legacy to leave, imagine my kids are the same way."

"Then you'll look like Dumbledore by forty," Lucerys teased, causing Daphne to gasp in horror while he laughed.

"Dumbledore! How dare you!" Daphne faked a gag as she looked at her father before gagging again, "I'd rather be tortured!"

Daphne enjoyed her time as she walked back to the Fat Lady with her father at her side. The man made sure she got back safely and in the hands of her friends before he'd leave her on her own. Upon arguing with the Fat Lady over the password for a few minutes, it swung open and the girl bid her goodbyes to her father before entering.

Daphne made her way into the girl's dormitory with all of her friend's, nearly tripping herself as she began to take off her shoes before she started taking off the multiple layers of shirts as she closed the door behind her. Rubbing her hands together before changing into her pajamas and flopping down into her bed for the night.

When she had laid down, she realized that she hadn't stopped to ask Ron and Harry if they had gotten their problems sorted out and she practically deadpanned at herself. She didn't want to get out of bed as her head began to pound and she determined that she'd figure it out in the morning during breakfast, she'd see then anyway.

Unlike most nights, it didn't take her ages to fall asleep. Maybe that was thanks to the Firewhiskey or maybe it was thanks to having a mind at ease for once. She was sure she knew who the beast was and she knew who to look out for. She knew her brother hadn't betrayed her after all and her friend's were safe, so there was nothing eating her up inside at the moment.

Hermione came through the doors to the dorms rather late, waking up Daphne who looked to see who it was. She wasn't tense but relaxed upon seeing that it was her best friend who had came back so late - she wondered if she had stayed up studying or what was keeping Hermione Granger awake for once.

"Are you alright?" Daphne asked despite noticing how Hermione tried her best to keep her gaze away from the girl, "Mione?"

Despite the two having a little bit of a quarrel, Daphne wasn't going to let that affect her morals. She still cared about Hermione even if they were mad at each other and she was going to be there if she needed her or if there was something wrong and it seemed like there was but Daphne wasn't going to press until she spoke, she'd let her ease it out on her own.

"You're awake?" Hermione questioned as she spoke quietly, "You should go back to sleep, Daphne. It's late and we've got classes in the morning."

"You should be asleep as well," Daphne gave her a soft look as she adjusted herself to sit upright on her bed, "But you aren't, which is unusual. So, Mione, what's wrong? That is - if you want to talk to me. You aren't obliged to."

There was a sense of trust between the two or so it seemed as Hermione began to walk over in silence. Only making it over once Daphne lit up the tip of her wand so that the girl could see through the darkness, then, Hermione sat down on the edge of Daphne's bed while the girl adjusted so that they sat side by side.

"What is it?" Daphne asked softly as she placed a hand on Hermione's arm, "Do I need to hex the Godric out of someone, because I will."

Hermione cracked a small smile as she looked at the girl before shaking her head, "No. You don't. I'm just being sensitive."

"Sensitive? I doubt that," Daphne made a face as she looked at the girl, "Sensitive about what? Grades?"

"What Malfoy says about me," Hermione's head then hung low while Daphne quirked an eyebrow, "It's so stupid, Daphne. I just get so upset."

"He calls you epithets, Hermione. Not to mention the physical harm he has tried to do to you," Daphne sighed as she shook her head, "You're not being sensitive and in my knowledge, you've been too calm about it."

"Do you really think that?" Hermione asked as she looked over at Daphne, "I know you're related to him and all but..."

"Related doesn't mean he's a relative, or relevant," Daphne looked at the girl before letting out a small snort, "Caius used to be the only one I claimed but as of recently, I can't trust or side with Caius anymore. Neither of them are family in my book."

Hermione still seemed unsure but Daphne made sure to emphasize that Draco Malfoy was a boy using his bullying antics to try and make himself feel confident. Saying she had met people like him and she grew up alongside him, his balls never dropped and this was his immature way of making himself feel powerful.

"Breakfast," One of the Gryffindor's called out after the sun broke through the glass windows in the dormitory, "Time to get dressed!"

The usual announcement to wake everyone up by the eldest in the dorm. Sadly and thankfully, Daphne would forever be one of the youngest in her year. She would never have to order anyone awake because she simply was never awake. Which she was thankful for because she quite liked her sleep.

Daphne was one of the last girl's to leave the dormitory. Sending Hermione off with the boys to claim their usual seats as she staggered behind. Finding herself beyond tired with a slight headache which she took a pain potion for before adjusting her uniform and walking on her way. She wasn't sure how she was going to face Harry, she needed more Firewhiskey.

She walked into the Great Hall behind the Patil twins, who both said hello to Harry as he took a sip of his pumpkin juice while he stared at her. Daphne felt the jealousy riddle her bones as she decided to sit elsewhere, but Ron caught her arm and was quick to pull her down into the seat at his side while Hermione raised an eyebrow.

She watched the moment that Cho was informed that the chosen one was staring in her direction which caused her to look back and smile at him as the pumpkin juice slipped from his lips causing him to become embarrassed. Daphne clenched her jaw as she huffed out a breath while staring at the table.

"Are you alright?" Ron asked under his breath as he lightly nudged the girl's arm.

Daphne cut him a small look, not even lifting her head, "Just fine, Ron. Just fine," She lied as she forced herself to sit straight up while putting on a smile

"Look at this! Look at this!" Hermione roughly adjusted the newspaper in her hands, "I can't believe she's done it again. Miss Granger, a plain and ambitious girl, seems to be developing a taste for famous wizards. Her latest prey, sources report, is none other than the Bulgarian bonbon Viktor Krum, sources wonder if Miss Daphne Black, Harry Potter's girlfriend, has anything to do with this. Or if she's got her eyes on any other candidate."

Harry continued to chew his food while looking annoyed as his face was tinted pink while he looked at Daphne who never once spared him a glance. The girl sitting in her spot looking anywhere but at him as she had a look of pure annoyance over her features as a young Gryffindor named Nigel came by the table.

"Parcel for you, Mr. Weasley," He spoke while placing the box on the Gryffindor table.

"Thank you, Nigel," The redhead looked at the boy before noting how he simply stood there, staring at Harry, "Not now, Nigel. Later," Ron gave the boy a look who then scurried away as Daphne sat awkwardly between Harry and Ron, "Go on. I told him I'd get him Harry's autograph."

"Who'd want that?" Daphne retorted quite bitterly before Ron opened the box.

"Oh, look, Mum's sent me something," Ron's voice cracked as everyone leaned together as Ron pulled out a pair of dress robes, "Mum sent me a dress!" The twins laughed from the other side.

"It's... hideous," Daphne couldn't lie as she shook her head, "What the Godric is that and what time period is it from?"

Harry snickered, "Well, it does match your eyes. Is there a bonnet?" he leaned over Daphne which caused the girl's breathing to hitch, "Aha!"

"Nose down, Harry," Ron looked rather angry at Harry as he continued on as he walked over to his sister, "Ginny. These must be for you."

"I'm not wearing that, it's ghastly," Ginny stopped eating to look at the robes in pure disgust, "I agree with Daph."

Hermione then began laughing out of control which caused Ron to ask, "What are you on about?"

"They're not for Ginny," Hermione managed to get out as she let her hand fall from her mouth, "They're for you, dress robes," Hermione looked amused as everyone laughed out of control.

"Dress robes, for what?" Ron asked in pure confusion.

"Deez nuts!" Daphne retorted before acting mortified, "Shit, I said that out loud. Well, cheerio and go on! Waltz in those Ronnie, they're... lovely."

"Shove off!"